Following an extensive awards review involving a focus group of meetings and events industry practitioners, a number of changes were implemented into the 2008 Awards program. You can view the full list of available categories by clicking here.

The main changes to the award categories are:

The Event of the Year is now split into 4 separate categories:

•  Special Event of the Year
•  Exhibition of the Year
•  Incentive of the Year
•  Public Event of the Year (including Festivals)

Under Products and Services Awards, Conference Support Services, Conference Support Products and Exhibition Support Products and Services are now combined into 1 category – Meetings & Events Support Services.

Meetings Industry Research category was replaced with Education, Training & Professional Development.

Y MEA Future Leader award is introduced in 2008.

Convention Bureau / Tourist Organisation category is now split into 2 award categories: Metropolitan Convention Bureau / Tourist Organisation and Regional Convention Bureau / Tourist Organisation.

Environmental Award is now a Corporate and Social Responsibility Award. This category is going to remain as an optional question. However this year you don't need to download a separate template for this question. This question is already included in every template. Please note that if you choose NOT to answer it, this will NOT downgrade your submission.

Changes to Award Applications are:

All award applications excluding Individual categories will have to include a statement of financial viability with their application.

Finalists in Individual Award categories will be required to attend a face to face interview with MEA nominated judges.

In order to be considered for the Operations Person of the Year award and Sales & Marketing Person of the Year award, the applicant MUST be an accredited or a recognised MEA member (i.e. AMM, AIMM or AFMEA). Applications from non accredited or recognised members will not be considered.

In order to be considered for the Meetings or Events Manager of the Year award the applicant MUST be an accredited MEA member (AMM or AIMM). Applications from non accredited members will not be considered.

From 2008, Judges' feedback will only be provided on request in April 2009.